Lincoln/Brainard, NE
Major NE cooperative with dedicated drone spraying division. Dual PSC grants for DJI and non-DJI.
Drone Spraying
Price on request
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Drone Spraying for Alfalfa: Rates, Timing & Operators 2026
$14 to $20/acre16M+ acres in the US
By Eugen Manoli, Founder and Editor · Updated
Alfalfa covers approximately 16 million harvested acres in the United States, concentrated in California, the Mountain West and the Northern Plains. Drone spraying on alfalfa costs $14 to $20 per acre, primarily for alfalfa weevil insecticide in early spring and leaf spot fungicide between cuttings. The drone advantage is timing — the 24-to-48-hour turnaround on weevil and aphid outbreaks beats ground-rig availability during peak pest pressure.
Alfalfa covers roughly 16 million harvested acres in the United States per USDA NASS, the highest-yielding hay forage crop. Drone spraying targets alfalfa weevil in spring and leaf spot fungicide between cuttings.
ULV rate: 2 to 5 gpa
Key pests and diseases
- ⚠Alfalfa Weevil (Hypera postica)
- ⚠Pea Aphid, Spotted Alfalfa Aphid, Blue Alfalfa Aphid
- ⚠Potato Leafhopper
- ⚠Common Leaf Spot, Lepto Leaf Spot, Spring Black Stem
- ⚠Anthracnose
Drone application can respond quickly to any of these threats, even in fields with difficult access.
Application calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Green = optimal application window
Drone spraying rates 2026
| Service type | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa: application only | $14/acre | $17/acre | $20/acre |
Official resources
Frequently asked questions
The typical rate for drone spraying on alfalfa is $14 to $20 per acre for application only, the farmer supplies the chemical product. Pricing varies based on total acreage, distance from the operator's base and product type. Larger fields (500+ acres) often qualify for lower per-acre rates.
Optimal timing for drone applications on alfalfa is: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. Applications should be made at low wind speeds (under 10 mph), ideally early morning or evening, to maximize product adhesion and minimize drift.
Key advantages of drone application over ground equipment: (1) zero soil compaction, (2) can operate when fields are too wet for tractors, (3) high-precision GPS coverage with 95%+ uniformity, (4) can treat irregular or small fragmented fields and (5) can spray tall crops like corn at full canopy. The main trade-off is a smaller tank size compared to pull-behind ground rigs.
Operators with alfalfa experience
Fairfield, NE
Fairfield, Nebraska drone services operator. Newly approved FAA Part 137. Run by Chad Nelson. Fleet includes XAG P100 Pro, Talos T60X and DJI Agras T40. Services include spraying, granular spreading, crop monitoring, aerial mapping, cover crop seeding and pilot training across row crops, vineyards and orchards in NE.
Verified OperatorFAA Part 137 ✓
$13/acre
Hastings, NE
Authorized DJI ag dealer offering both custom application and equipment sales with agronomic consulting.
FAA Part 137 ✓
Price on request
Western Colorado, CO
Ag and powerline drone services in Western CO. Holds Part 107, Part 137, Commercial Applicator and Aerial Applicator licenses. Sprays up to 30 acres/hr.
FAA Part 137 ✓FAA Part 107 ✓
Drone Spraying
Price on request
Yakima, WA
Yakima, WA · Parabug biocontrol release + spray + Firman pollen testing
Austin Drone Solutions opened in 2025 and has covered over 2,500 acres across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Their partnership with Parabug allows them to release beneficial insects via a patent-pending drone release system, implemented on their DJI Agras T25, making them one of the rare ag drone operators in the Pacific Northwest offering biocontrol services. They also provide spraying and spreading services on almost all crops and pasture ground using a DJI Agras T50, and are currently testing pollen applications at 10 GPA with Firman Pollen. Their trailer mixes up to 175 gallons per batch and carries 550 gallons of fresh water.
Verified OperatorFAA Part 137 ✓
$15 to $30/acre
3K ac
Lehi, UT (hubs: Boise, Twin Falls, ID
Authorized DJI Agras dealer. One-stop shop for ag drones, parts and service. Operates spray hubs across Idaho. Sprayed thousands of acres. $15 to $22/acre.
Drone SprayingEquipment Sales
Price on request